‘They want it all’: Disability share house to be stripped of everything from couches to light globes by charity landlord
For a close-knit group of residents living in an Adelaide disability share house, the end of their lease should have signalled a fresh start.
Instead, a bitter fallout with their charity landlord has left them living in fear, facing demands to strip their home of almost everything inside - including hand-painted artwork, a second-hand shopping bag and a Christmas tree.
For a close-knit group of residents, the end of their lease should have signalled a fresh start. A Current Affair
At the centre of the dispute is Abbeyfield Australia, a not-for-profit low-cost housing charity now facing accusations of being decidedly uncharitable.
Eddie, Philip, and Sarah are among the half dozen residents with disabilities living at Marion House, a share house in Adelaide.
For years, it was their safe haven. Today, it is a battleground.
“They haven’t shown care or compassion here — quite the opposite,” says Peter Jenkinson, whose son Eddie lives in the house.
According to residents and their families, Abbeyfield Australia has threatened to strip the home of appliances, furniture, and personal belongings following the conclusion of their lease, claiming the items are the charity’s property.
“They want to take pretty much everything in here,” Jenkinson explains, gesturing around the kitchen.
“That microwave. The stove here, the hot plate, the range hood, all of this cooking gear.”
Even the most mundane household necessities aren’t safe.
According to Jenkinson, the charity’s repossession list extends to washing machines, dryers, ping pong balls, and even unused light globes.
The astonishing move follows a long-running, ugly fallout between Abbeyfield and the residents’ families.
The catalyst? A sharp fee increase demanded by the charity, which amounted to an extra $200 per resident, per fortnight.
At the centre of the dispute is Abbeyfield Australia, a not-for-profit low-cost housing charity now facing accusations of being decidedly uncharitable. A Current Affair
Families refused to pay the full hike, leading to a four-year deterioration of the relationship.
The situation became so dire that the South Australian government stepped in, officially taking over the lease.
The government subsequently handed the families the list of items Abbeyfield intends to reclaim.
However, the families fiercely dispute ownership, claiming they paid for many of the items themselves, while others were donated.
Some items carry deep sentimental value. Sarah, one of the residents, pointed to artwork that the housemates painted.
“I wouldn’t let anyone take it away from me,” Sarah says.
“Because it’s a special part that I did this up ... It’s my heart.”
A Current Affair caught up with Abbeyfield Australia chief executive Dimitri Kiriacoulacos, attempting to hand-deliver some of the items his charity has demanded back.
In a statement published on its website, Abbeyfield Australia defended its actions, writing:
“Abbeyfield sought to undertake the normal end-of-lease process, including identifying and recovering assets owned by the charity and completing its obligations under the lease. To date, Abbeyfield has not been able to obtain access to the property to complete that process.”
The charity added that every decision made by the organisation has been guided by two equally important responsibilities.
“Protecting the wellbeing of residents and responsibly managing the charitable assets entrusted to Abbeyfield by donors and the community.”
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